mojoPortal Tips: New Blog Features – Multi-Author Support!

With the latest version of mojoPortal (2.3.9.4), a terrific new feature has been incorporated; the ability to allow multiple authors to write in a single blog, without giving them access to any posts other than their own. In addition, you can now also include authors’ bios and avatar as a part of each blog entry, allowing for greater personalization for each author’s work. Let’s go over how you can implement this feature set in mojoPortal.

I’ve recently upgraded my own site, IndigoTea.com, to use the 2.3.9.4 version of mojoPortal. One of the best new features is the ability to automatically add author bio and image information to Blog entries and HTML Instances. In order to have this option, you’ll need to go to your Profile, where in addition to your avatar, which is what will be displayed next to your bio, you’ll see a new field labeled “Author Bio”. This field must be populated in order to see the option to allow your bio and avatar information to be displayed.

However, this is where it gets a little bit confusing. In your HTML Instance, under “Settings”, you’ll see “Show Author Profile Image?”, and “Show Author Profile Biography?” Due to the already complex settings list for blog features, it was decided to leave “Show Author Avatar” under Settings, and configure the bio display under the blogsettings entry of the active theme.skin. The options are listed here: http://www.mojoportal.com/blog-display-settings (Update: in future versions of mojoPortal, you’ll have the option to select “Show Author Bio” in the settings, along with the avatar).

As for the multi-author functionality, here’s an explanation for how it will work: ” By default users with edit permission on the page containing the Blog instance or users with edit permission directly on the Blog instance can only edit the posts they create themselves, unless they are also members of the Administrators or Content Administrators roles.”

To establish formatting for your bios, some additional CSS classes have been included. This will allow you to change the colors and layout, so that your bio content is easily distinguishable from the content on the rest of the page.

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Author Spotlight

Carole Bennett

Carole Bennett is the founder and principal of IndigoTea. As a professional IT consultant, Carole has provided solutions for companies as diverse as Verizon, Frito-Lay, Capital One Auto Finance, and Zales Jewelers, parlaying a unique talent for acting as a translator between the worlds of business challenges and technology solutions.
She considers multi-tasking skills gained from simultaneously 1) managing a fire performance troupe, 2) raising a family, and 3) working as a full-time IT consultant excellent preparation for her current career incarnation as the driving force behind IndigoTea. "Fire-breathing redhead on a mission" is not just a metaphorical description!